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Yellow car blues? Search for cop imposters puts car in spotlight

Yellow car blues? Search for cop imposters puts car in spotlight

Columbia Police and the Maury County Sheriff’s Department are investigating recent incidents of men posing as police officers who are attempting to pull motorists over using a blue flashing light. In the incidents, the victims described the offenders as driving a yellow, newer model Chevrolet Camaro or Ford Mustang. Police distributed this graphic Monday showing other similar makes and models that could have been used. (Photo courtesy of the Columbia Police Department)

Yellow car blues? Search for cop imposters puts car in spotlight

A yellow sports car similar to this one was used by robbers in two recent crimes on U.S. Highway 43. Victims’ reports of the exact make and model have not been certain. See Page 3A for photos of other types of cars that may have been used. (Photo courtesy of the Columbia Police Department)

Local law enforcement are continuing efforts to find suspects posing as undercover police officers in a yellow sports car after a fourth incident was reported during the weekend.

Columbia Police Department Lt. Joey Gideon said a Chevrolet Camaro was described as being involved in most of the reports, but there is a possibility that the car is another model.

“There are at least four (car) models that are very similar to each other,” Gideon said. “On a dark highway with a blue light flashing, it is very possible it could be one of these other models or it could be something that we are not even thinking of.”

The latest occurrence happened about 6 p.m. Sunday in the area of Nashville Highway and Carters Creek Pike in Columbia, according to a Columbia Police Department incident report. A motorist reported that a yellow Chevrolet Camaro pulled in behind their vehicle on Nashville Highway and flashed a blue light.

The motorist in the latest incident told police the yellow car drove away after he turned on his interior light. He told police the Camaro’s driver was a white male, and the vehicle also contained a male passenger wearing a white hat, according to the report.

The motorist said he was unsure whether the blue light came from the Camaro’s dash or grille.

Columbia police eventually spotted a vehicle matching that description with two people in the car. An officer got behind the suspicious vehicle and initiated a traffic stop after the vehicle failed to maintain its traffic lane, according to the report.

CPD officers searched the vehicle, but found nothing that could be used as a blue light. The two occupants’ cell phones were searched for any applications that could simulate police lights. Officers found no such apps on either phone.

Neither occupant of the car was charged with a crime.

“At this point I am not ready to say that they are involved in any way other than being in the area a short time afterwards in a matching type vehicle,” Gideon said.

The Maury County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of similar incidents where victims were robbed last week. Two motorists were pulled over by a similar yellow muscle car and robbed in rural areas near Mt. Pleasant. According to MCSD officials, a victim in one of the incidents said the vehicle could have been a Camaro or a Ford Mustang.

Both robbery victims described the suspects as a black male and a white male.

On Friday, another motorist reported a similar incident in the area of U.S. Highway 43, near Williamsport Pike. The person told police that the vehicle pulled behind him and flashed a blue light. He sped away, and the Camaro did not follow him. Several police agencies searched the area but found no vehicles matching the description.

Gideon said those who drive yellow sports cars may be subject to increased public scrutiny, but he assured citizens that officers would not pull over any vehicles without cause. The CPD lieutenant said officers must respond to citizen complaints in the interest of public safety.

“Officers aren’t just going to start stopping cars just because it’s a yellow sports car,” he said. “They are not going to violate someone’s rights in the pursuit of this.”

Any person with additional information that may assist in this investigation is encouraged to contact the CPD Criminal Investigations Division at (931) 380-2721, the Columbia Police Department at (931) 388-2727, Maury County Crime Stoppers at (931) 381-4900 or the Columbia Police SAFE Tip Line at (931) 380-2930.

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